sau2 dou1首都
Jyutpingsau2 dou1
Yalesáu dōu
Definition
Capital city; the administrative center and seat of government of a country.
neutralplaces
How it's used
Refers strictly to the political center of a sovereign state. While it is a standard term, it is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless discussing geography, politics, or travel plans. For cities that are not national capitals, use the more generic term 城市.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Do you know where the capital of France is?
Their whole family moved to the capital to live.
Related words
Common phrases
Capital Airport
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 省會, which refers to the capital of a province. Using 首都 for a provincial capital is factually incorrect in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
